Lenovo launches Link dongle to bridge smartphone and desktop divide

Lenovo has launched Link 32GB, a USB dongle that allows an Android phone to be used "picture-in-picture" on a Windows desktop.

The Chinese hardware giant touts that the dongle will provide the ability to drag and drop files between the phone and desktop computer, copy and paste text, watch a video stored on the phone in full-screen on the desktop, and use the mouse and keyboard within smartphone apps.

(Image: Lenovo)

In order to use the system, customers will need to be running Windows 7 and above, have an Android device running 5.0 Lollipop connected via USB to the Link 32GB, and have the Link app installed.

The Link is set to cost $40, and will be available in March.

At the same time that it launched the Link, Lenovo also announced a refresh of its Yoga, Ideacentre, and Ideapad line-ups.

Clocking in at 12.8 millimetres and weighing just shy of 1 kilogram, Lenovo is claiming its Yoga 900S is the thinnest convertible laptop on offer. The convertible features a watchband hinge made from 813 parts, a second-generation Intel Core M7 processor, runs only Windows 10 Home by default, uses a 12.5-inch 2560x1440 display, has up to 8GB of LPDDR3 memory, and has up to 512GB of PCIe SSD storage.

Pricing on the Yoga 900S will begin at $1,099, and it is set to be available in March.

The company is also offering a home PC with an optional removable wireless projector. The triangular Ideacentre 610S can potentially pack a sixth-generation Intel Core i7 processor, an Nvidia GTX 750Ti GDDR5 2G graphics card, up to 16GB of DDR4 memory, and 2TB of spinning rust storage. Its accompanying projector is able to show a 100-inch 720p image at 2.4 metres, sits 70mm high, and also has HDMI and USB ports.

Arriving in June, the Ideacentre 610S is set to cost upwards of $849 with the optional detachable projector.

Lenovo also launched a $200 5-inch, dual-SIM Andorid 5.1 phone, dubbed the Vibe, that uses a 8-megapixel front-facing camera with a five-piece lens and "selfie flash". Availability on the Vibe was not mentioned.

Yesterday, the Chinese hardware manufacturer extended its X1 line of products to include a modular tablet, the ThinkPad X1 Tablet, which comes with three clip-on modules: A five-hour battery module that extends the length of time that the tablet can be used, from 10 hours to 15 hours; a projector module that includes a pico projector and an HDMI port; and an imaging module that makes use of an Intel RealSense camera.

Joining the X1 Tablet are the ThinkPad X1 Yoga, a 17mm convertible that can optionally use a Samsung OLED display; the 2016 X1 Carbon laptop that can use up to 1TB of Samsung M.2 NVMe SSD storage; and the ThinkCentre X1 all-in-one desktop.

The company also unveiled its 23.8-inch ThinkVision X24 Pro monitor that is able to be expanded to use a Qi wireless charging stand for compatible smartphones, and a WiGig bar that sits along the bottom of the monitor.